5/7/2014 Siv Schwink
Professor Paul Kwiat has been selected to receive the Doug and Judy Davis Award for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics. The citations reads, “for his significant contributions to the teaching of statistical physics and quantum mechanics to undergraduate students in physics and engineering.”
This award was created and funded by Doug and Judy Davis to recognize faculty or staff members who truly enhance undergraduate education in the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois.
Written by Siv Schwink
Kwiat admits, the high-level concepts within the two subjects—Physics 213: Thermal Physics and Physics 214: Quantum Physics—are challenging to teach at the sophomore level, each for different reasons, but he thoroughly enjoys it. He lets his own insatiable curiosity and sense of wonder pilot the courses, and ties in leading-edge research findings whenever he can.
“I’m a huge fan of demos,” says Kwiat. “For student understanding (and for me to have fun), demos manifest what a formula means in practice—it’s not just a bunch of symbols and numbers. Students can see things happening and make real-world connections.”
The greatest challenge in teaching quantum physics is the nature of the subject.
“Even though the math itself isn’t very difficult, quantum mechanics is hard for students to accept because the concepts are strange,” reflects Kwiat. “Particles can be in more than one place at one time—it goes counter to our intuition. And, even though it underlies absolutely everything, the basic effects of quantum physics don’t manifest themselves in our daily experience.
“That’s also part of what makes the subject interesting to teach, I have to confront that literal and figurative uncertainty over and over again," he shares.
In teaching thermal physics, Kwiat recognizes that students have no trouble conceptualizing the applications, because so many are readily visible—car engines, heat pumps, refrigerators, global warming, the body’s perspiration, altitude’s effect on boiling temperature, etc. We also see it in more technical applications, such as semiconductors and chemical reactions. However, conveying the simplicity of the math used to model thermal physics is paradoxically a great challenge.
“The statistical mechanics aspect is challenging for all because it’s so simple. The models are based on simple counting—you just have to learn to count the right way and know what to ignore,” observes Kwiat. “The fact that the math works so incredibly well is in a sense astonishing, and it’s hard for students not to see this as lots of different topics instead of as three principals that we apply over and over again across different complicated systems. Of course, to be able to do all of the calculations completely correctly, more math would be needed, but properly explained, the ideas are accessible.”
With courses this challenging, Kwiat finds that sometimes more tangible incentives can be helpful. He throws treats into the crowd, as positive reinforcement and to encourage students to fully engage in discussion.
“I throw candy to students for answering a question (more or less) correctly—sometimes also for giving a very clever wrong answer that initiates an interesting discussion on underlying assumptions that may have led to a wrong result," he shares.
Department Head and Professor Dale Van Harlingen shares, “Paul has a great passion and an extraordinary talent for sharing the elegance of physics and for engaging undergraduate students. He is a dynamic force and a great asset to this department.”
Kwiat said being selected for the award is an unexpected honor and he is deeply grateful to be in a department that so highly values teaching alongside of research—it’s part of what drew him to the University. He would like to recognize the many individuals who contribute to the successful delivery of these core courses.
“Many faculty members laid the foundations for these courses before I ever taught them. Jim Wolfe and Mike Weissman were really my guides. Jim Wolfe impressed upon me the importance of looking at problems of relevance to the students—problems relating to their own fields. And I still go to Mike with questions—his answer is always going to be correct.
“I wouldn’t want to teach these courses without the amazing support we get with demos from our teaching laboratory specialists, Bernie Dick and Erika Smith. Both are extremely helpful with whatever I want to try. I really think we have the best demo department.
"I’m also grateful to Tim Stelzer for support with integrating interactive i-clicker technology in the classroom, to Rebecca Wiltfong and Elaine Schulte for IT and logistical support, and to Sandy Johnson and Kate Shunk in the undergraduate office for their administrative coordination. It takes a whole array of people to offer high quality instruction.”
This award was created and funded by Doug and Judy Davis to recognize faculty or staff members who truly enhance undergraduate education in the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois.
Kwiat will be recognized for his teaching today at a special Physics colloquium at 4 p.m. in 141 Loomis Laboratory. He will also receive a plaque to display in recognition of this award.